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And in the real world... Sky, Northern Rock, Matalan, National Trust and more

LONDON - Today's round-up of the biggest business stories.

And in the real world... Sky, Northern Rock, Matalan, National Trust and more

BSkyB is gearing up to unveil a rebranding of the Sky logo featuring a more rounded S that is intended to reflect a friendlier persona. The overhaul of Sky's brand identity marks an attempt by the broadcaster to position itself as the UK's "most loved and respected source of entertainment", as it gears up for its festive advertising push. Source:The Financial Times

The government is considering a proposal to turn the Northern Rock bank, which was nationalised last year, back into a mutual. After being rescued by an injection of £25 billion of taxpayers money, the bank could be returned to a mutual rather than going up for a private sale or stock floatation, if a lobby by the Building societies Association, backed by politicians and academics is accepted. Source:The Guardian

Pricewaterhouse Coopers and CBI have warned that the Financial Services Sector could be facing up to 60,000 job cuts this year, despite signs of economic recovery. The findings, from the two group's joint quarterly survey, estimated that between 10,000 and 15,000 jobs could be lost this quarter, taking the annual total to between 40,000 and 60,000, far more than the 34,000 job losses suffered in 2008. Source:The Daily Telegraph

The National Trust has launched its own range of food in supermarkets in a bid to take on brands like Prince Charles' Duchy Originals. The own-brand National Trust products include potatoes, beer, breads, biscuits and meats, which will all hit the shelves in coming months and are all sourced from the trusts food-producing tenant farmers. Source:Daily Mail

The UK's housing market is experiencing a recovery with house prices rising 0.9percent in September according to figures from Nationwide. Although the month-on-month rise is the fifth consecutive increase experienced in the UK, economists are raising caution that that rising levels of unemployment could impact on house-buyers current optimism.Source: The Wall Street Journal